A Trip to the East and a New Perspective
Volunteer: Erika Schumann
Age: 25
From: Willingboro, NJ
Occupation: Branch Manager, OTC Dermatological Products
CCS Program Site: Dharamsala and New Delhi, India
How is volunteering abroad different than other traveling?
Well I guess the best way to describe it would be that you have to kind of get over yourself and out of your little comfort zone. Once you get out of that you can learn to appreciate and enjoy a new culture. I think it should be required by the government for people to do this. You give something but you gain something. I mean, I know when I came back I was different and I wanted different things out of my life. There’s nothing like realizing that wealth is not the most important thing in the world. And just thinking, 'do I want to work my whole life toward something that doesn’t matter, or do I want to do something I can take with me and make a difference?'
Describe your overall experience.
It was great. It was an eye-opening, sort of refreshing experience. It was the first time I was in an Asian country, and the first time I was ever in a non-Western country. Sometimes, I’ll be walking around and smell a spice or something that reminds me of India and I get all warm and fuzzy inside. It took only about a day to get used to being there. Outside of a resort, I never knew people could be so nice and welcoming.
Describe your placement experience.
The most fun days were definitely at the schools, they were just trying to impress you by knowing their multiplication tables and showing you their drawings. The kids were just so adorable and I really liked the fact that the children with disabilities were with all of the other children. There was this one where a kid was blind and we were all playing “Ring Around the Rosie.” The teacher helped him play right along with us and he was just so happy! But the kids were just so willing to try to talk to me even though they knew I didn’t speak Hindi. They wanted to touch my braces and my braids, because kids aren’t afraid, they’ll just come up and touch your face, you know.
What was your favorite Cultural & Learning Activity?
I guess one of my favorite things was definitely when we went to a Fort; it was such a steep climb. I had to take off my shoes, because it was just easier to climb it that way at one point. Once I got to the top, and I didn’t think I was going to make it, I was just so happy. It was the most perfect view of a valley below, and you’re just like wow, the world is beautiful place. The reason I was worried was because I had been in a bad car accident in 2001 and I had injuries to my knees and back so I thought something like that would have been hard for me. But you realize, if you just push yourself a little harder, you can do it. We sort of joked about it and said if I can walk up a mountain I can do anything! And it definitely helped my fear of heights.
Describe your overall experience in three words.
Totally life-changing. Reason way I say that is, I thought all I wanted out of life was an Audi A6, a penthouse in New York, some Gucci’s—stuff that now doesn’t even matter. That was like the biggest thing I ever let go of. I realized I’d rather travel the world and make a difference in people’s lives. It’s kind of weird you get an MBA, and then you’re like I don’t really care if I make a lot of money. It’s kind of an oxymoron.
